September 6, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 142 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1100-E1101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF GUADALUPE CENTER INC.'S CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 6, 2019

  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the one 
hundredth anniversary of Guadalupe Centers Inc. Throughout the century 
since the Guadalupe Center's formation, they have remained steadfast to 
their founding objective to play an integral role in the development 
and wellbeing of the Mexican, Mexican-American and the Latino 
community-at-large in Kansas City. Guadalupe Centers Inc. has expanded 
exponentially, growing beyond its original Westside location to provide 
immeasurable services for the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.
  Many families immigrated from Mexico to Kansas City in the 1910s and 
20s for the growing meat packing and railroad industry. Although there 
were a multitude of jobs, they were often erratic and poorly paid. It 
was out of the needs of this new community that the idea for the 
Guadalupe Center was generated. Guadalupe Centers Inc. was established 
by eighteen young Catholic women in 1919 as a part of the local 
Catholic Church in Kansas City's historic Westside. Both the Mexican 
and Mexican-American population in the area used the Center to create a 
unique cultural environment, separate from American mainstream society 
at the time. Their idea was to unite the growing population of Mexican 
and Mexican-American families predominantly living in Westside at the 
time into a ``Colonia Mexicana,'' or a Mexican community.
  Throughout the following decades, the Guadalupe Center became a 
central pillar of the Westside neighborhood, as well as Kansas City at 
large. The leadership of Ms. Dorothy Gallagher in the 1930s and 40s 
instigated a new chapter in the Center's history, as she organized the 
development of the Center and spearheaded new initiatives. The original 
stone building, purchased in 1919, remained central to the organization 
and the large room of the first floor was the ``living room of the 
neighborhood,'' where weddings and other events were held. Women cooked 
enormous amounts of food in the kitchen, and a constant stream of 
residents flowed in and out of the space as it expanded to the building 
next door. Celebrations like the Noche Buena party in 1940 were viewed 
as cornerstones of the year's social calendar.
  While expanding their range of programs, the Guadalupe Center 
remained steadfast in their commitment to social justice and 
empowerment. In the pivotal decades of the 1960s and 70s, when the 
Chicano movement was gaining force in cities across the country, the 
Guadalupe Center influenced the local movement in Kansas City. 
Guadalupe Center encouraged Mexican American communities to flourish by 
creating a space where individuals could have their unique cultural 
identity both nourished and encouraged. American civil rights leader 
Cesar Chavez acknowledged the Center as a formidable force, visiting 
the Center during his travels throughout the Midwest.
  Today, Guadalupe Centers Inc. reflects the same socially-minded ideas 
for which it was originally founded. The Center has remained a catalyst 
for greater Latino representation and political activism throughout the 
years. Ms. Lali Garcia, who is a dedicated volunteer at the Guadalupe 
Center for over forty-five years, a local activist, and a board member 
of organizations like the pivotal La Raza Political Club, is a prime 
example of this. Moreover, Paul Rojas, the first Latino Missouri State 
Representative, contributed greatly to the development of Guadalupe 
Centers Inc. as Chairman. Both as Representative and then as Chairman, 
Mr. Rojas fought politically and socially for increased resources for 
the Latino Community, whether for educational or training programs. 
Guadalupe Centers would not have

[[Page E1101]]

flourished as it has without the integrity of partners like both Ms. 
Garcia and Mr. Rojas.
  A central focus of the Center has been, and still is, to provide 
social services for the community and create an intergenerational 
impact. The social services provided by Guadalupe Centers range from 
their Older Adults Program, a Credit Union, to a large Food Bank, to 
name a few. Furthermore, the Guadalupe Centers Schools have become an 
integral part of the Kansas City educational landscape. Since their 
founding under the visionary leadership of the school's first 
superintendent, Gilbert Guerrero, the schools have provided academic 
access to historically under-served Latino communities. In addition to 
the schools, Guadalupe Centers Inc. inspires children and young adults 
around the city through their expansive Sports, Recreation, and Youth 
Programs. The idea for these programs was spearheaded and encouraged 
through the diligent volunteer hours put in by pillars in the community 
like Tony Aguirre who led by their enthusiasm and diligence.
  The wide range of cultural opportunities offered by Guadalupe Centers 
reinforce a celebration of the culture in the historic Westside, as 
they have done since their earliest days. These events also help raise 
the funds for the expansive programs led by the Center. Both the 
longevity and attendance of these celebrations are a testimony to what 
the Center means to the local community and the city-at-large. 
Guadalupe Center hosted Kansas City's first Cinco de Mayo festival and 
one that has run annually since 1922. Today, the Festival draws up to 
10,000 people over a two-day span. The Tony Aguirre Latino Men's 
Basketball tournament has been a Kansas City tradition for over fifty 
years and is the oldest continually running event of its kind. These 
are just several events out of a myriad offered by the Centers.
  Madam Speaker, please join with Missouri's Fifth Congressional 
District in honoring Guadalupe Centers Inc. for the indelible mark 
their one hundred years of service have left on our community. Through 
the visionary leadership of individuals from Dorothy Gallagher to Paul 
Rojas and Chris Medina, Guadalupe Centers have been and remain an 
integral part of, not only the Mexican or Mexican American community, 
but the larger Latino community in Kansas City. As Congressman in 
Missouri, I am honored and privileged to serve the community alongside 
all those who have contributed and continue to pour into Guadalupe 
Centers Inc. I encourage my fellow colleagues and citizens across the 
country to reflect upon the dedicated service of Guadalupe Centers as 
an inspiration and to thank them for all they have done and continue to 
do for the vibrancy, wellbeing, and cultural heritage of our city.

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